Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-12-16
THE BATTLE OYER AGAIN.

comes next November, and 1t will just so
surely be the ground of attack and
defence as the two great parties confront
each other next November.
The policy of the Republicans in this
transaction is already beginning to crop out
or be outlined; their tactics are already half
revealed through the columns of their FORE
most and most aggressive newspapers. The
message will be attacked from one end of
the Republican camp to the other as per-
nicious free trade document, at war with
the workingman, intended to cheaper labor,
cripple manufacturing, and give to other
countries the opportunity for which they
have so long waited, the opportunity to I'M
dersell our own people in their own mar
kets, and thereby monopolize the sales OF
manufactured articles TO the consumers of
the country.
1t is the same old cry of the monopolist
and the tax-dodger. The same old cry of
the protected producer who has tax lev
led upon the entire nation for his sole ben
eft, including even tax upon those who
work in his factory, his foundry, or his man
ufacturing establishment of any kind, and
who are told thousand times year by the
protection demagogues that their wages are
higher here because of protection, their
food cheaper and more plentiful, the COM
forts and even some of the luxuries OF life
are more readily obtained, and their condi-
ton in every way more satisfactory by far
than in any other country in the world.
1t is well that at the very outset of the
discussion of the Presidents message this
free-trade cheat and sham shall be branded
aud turned adrift. To begin with, there is
no such thing as free trade. What with in
creased expenditures, money for the sinking
fund, money for daily accommodating list
of pensions, money for all sorts of improve
ments, and all kinds of emotional and hys-
terical reforms, originated by goody -goody
missionaries and pressed home by cranks,
jobbers in the revenue and members Of Con-
gress with axes to grind locally, as for ex-
ample the Blair educational bill and such
other steals and frauds.
How is this to be raised Mr. Cleveland
tells us, by duties on imports collected at
the custom-houses. He does not appear to
be in favor Of making any change whatever
in the taxes yielded by the Internal Rev
enue Department. He evidently looks upon
spirituous and malt liquors, home wines,
cigars and tobacco, as SO many luxuries
which are paid for in the end by the con-
sumer, and which in no manner affect the
wellbeing of the workingman unless he
chooses to squander his money upon them
But the necessaries Of life are things alto
gether and radically different. These should
be cheapened through judicious revision
of the tariff proper. He does not say so, but
he might as well have 80 declared that the
present tariff is war tariff, made enormous
" protective under the belief that enormous
amounts of money would be required tC
carry on the war, and that the best way Il
raise all this money would be to levy suct
discriminating duties upon foreign nations
as to absolutely cut off all traffic with them
thereby making millonaires ten times ove
of few manufacturing lords in the UniteC
States by destroying every form and species
Of competition and erecting series Of gigan
tic monopolies, and still fatten upon thu
labor and industries Of the entire country
The President pleads with Congress Il
lay aside sectionalism, partisanship, ant
even all matters Of personal and politica
consideration and grapple with this immi
nent and ever increasing danger from tn
high and lofty standpoints Of patriotism AM
craftsmanship.
For answer, the Republicans fling back il
his teeth the barren and beggarly cutlery o
free trade. Very well. During the pas
twenty years or SO the people have beef
studying for themselves this entire tariff bu
siness in every one of its obscurities, sinu
osities and labyrinths They know NOR
about it than they ever did before. Ar
mere firmly resolved than ever before
deal with II from the shoulder and get som
of its enormities, menstrosities and excre.
cences Topped off.
As their champion in high place; 9
friend who is not afraid as their advc
cate who is not tempted by any future hor
Of reward or official alurements to spea
other than the truth; as an honest citize
whose convictions Of right and justice wi
not permit him to keep silent; as the chic
magistrate OF all, he tells them how this su
plus should and ought to be decreased. NJ
by free trade, for that is an absurdity, as /
frankly says, but by such revision of ii
tariff-now already laid on some six thou
and articles-as will be fair for all, reduc
taxation and keep surplus money from b
ing piled up in the treasury.
And the time has fairly come when til
entire subject of tariff revision must be dea
with in thoroughgoing and rational ma
ner The old free trade cry, like the wa
ing Of the bloody shirt, is played out tt
people now want results, and under Il
guidance OF some Democratic Statesms
and patriot they will be sure, sooner or late
TO get them in abundance.
The salary Of the President of the Frenc
republic is an item not altogether beneat
notice in connection with the exalted ofic
He receives $4,000 year and is ailowt
100000 more for living expenses and
handsome residence free. A gentleman eve
Of very generous tastes can manage to su
sist very nicely on his handsome allowanc
Notwithstanding the household of the Fren
executive is far more splendid and court-li
than is that of our own A vast number
servants and other people are employed al
there are numerous and elaborate cerem
mics and entertainments, and, in short, I